Solomon

Solomon is said to have had a harem that included seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kgs 11:3). Try to imagine one man and 1000 women.  If he lived 60 years, and started at age 18, that would be adding an average of 2 new women (or girls) each month!.

Yet according to Jewish tradition Solomon wrote three books of the Bible, and was considered a prophet. The nation of Israel grew in wealth and power under his wise leadership. He is credited with building the First Temple in Jerusalem.

The Bible makes it clear Solomon should not have married so many foreign women because they would lead him to worship other gods.

"King Solomon fell in love with many foreign women (besides Pharaoh’s daughter), including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.  They came from nations about which the Lord had warned the Israelites, “You must not establish friendly relations with them! If you do, they will surely shift your allegiance to their gods.” But Solomon was irresistibly attracted to them.  He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.  When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.  Solomon worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.  Solomon did evil in the Lord’s sight; he did not remain loyal to the Lord, like his father David had.  Furthermore, on the hill east of Jerusalem Solomon built a high place for the detestable Moabite god Chemosh and for the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.  He built high places for all his foreign wives so they could burn incense and make sacrifices to their gods. (1Kin 11:1-8)

Some will say that Solomon broke God’s command to have many wives.

"Moreover, he must not accumulate horses for himself or allow the people to return to Egypt to do so, for the Lord has said you must never again return that way. 17 Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside, and he must not accumulate much silver and gold."  (Duet 17:16-17)

Deuteronomy was likely written in 7^th century BCE, about 300 years after Solomon lived. Solomon also acquired horses from Egypt (1 King 10:28), and he acquired a lot of silver and gold.  It seems this passage in Deuteronomy was written with king Solomon in mind.   

Questions to consider:

• Is there any evidence that Solomon repented for having more than one sexual partner, let alone 1000?  
• Do we think a prophet or Biblical author should have a harem?
• If 1000 is too many, do the Biblical authors clarify how many is OK?

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Continue Reading:

• Samson

Start from the top:

• Recently Discovered Chapter of Deuteronomy
• Sexuality of: Heros of The Faith
• Biblical Marriage
• Porneia (Sexual Immorality???)
• Take a Old Testament Sexuality Survey Here